Howell Woman Indicted On Child Endangerment Charge: Prosecutor

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Howell Township woman and a Brick Township man have been indicted on charges of child endangerment, after the woman's daughter was found covered with bruises and bite marks in November, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's office.

Tara E. Lipko, 24, of Jesse Road, Howell, and Stephen B. Beirnat, 24, of Michelle Road, Brick, were indicted May 26 by a Monmouth County grand jury, according to the indictment. The charge against Lipko is second-degree endangerment, while Beirnat is charged with third-degree endangerment.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Howell police and released by the prosecutor's office, Lipko was arrested Nov. 23 and the child, a girl less than a year old, was temporarily removed from her care.

The complaint said the baby had "multiple fresh and healing wounds over her entire body," that included bite marks, bruising behind her ear, bruising on her lower back, forehead, face, leg and feet. The complaint did not specify what type of bite marks the baby had received.

The indictment said the incidents are believed to have occurred between Nov. 6 and Nov. 20.

Information on Beirnat's role in the situation was not immediately available.

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